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No. 6l9,6 67. Patented Feb. I4,- |899.

ELECTRIC PRINTING MACHINE. K

(Application tiled Oct. 30, 1897.)

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i (ii L. -CAMPBELL w/TNESSES @www Patented Feb. I4',- I899.y G. L. CAMPBELL. ELECTRIC PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application med occ. so, 169'7.)

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No. YM9566?. PatentedFeb'. I4, 1899. a. L. cAMPBELL.

ELECTBIG PRINTING MACHINE. (Appumion mea oct. v30,1897.)

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vUNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. CAMPBELL, OE DUSHORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, CONRAD KRAUS, IVILLIAM KRAUS, HENRY KRAUS, GARRETT E. DONAHOE, HORACE N. CSLER, EDWARD S. GAREY, ALPHONSUS WALSH, HORACE G. MAY, B. HARVEY WELCH, C. IVILLIAM WODDROP, THEODORE A. BOAK, JOHN D. REESER, MARTIN E. HERMANN, AND J. LOOMIS CHRIS- TIAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,667, dated February 14, 1899.

Application tiled October 30,1897. Serial No. 656,925. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. CAMPBELL, of Dushore, in the county of Sullivan and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Electric Printing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in electrically-operated printing devices, having for its special object the printing of bulletins in public places, and so constructed and connected that a large number of such devices may be simultaneously operated from a central point.

The invention comprises a frame carrying a sheet of paper with the proper mechanism attached thereto for rolling the paper from one roller to another.

It also comprises mechanism by which the frame carrying the paper is given a traversing motion in order that a line may be printed upon the paper.

The invention also comprises atype-wheel which is rotated by an electromagnet and a type-impressing mechanism, also operated by an electrolnagnet, the two magnets being in the same circuit, but the latter being operated only by a current which is of greater 1 strength than the normal.

The invention consists of certain combinations anddetails of construction, which will be pointed out hereinafter and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front section al elevation taken upon the line l l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. etis a detail plan View of the ratchet-wheel and its operating pawl and lever. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the magnet operating the type-impressing mechanism and the parts comprising said mechanism. Fig. 6 is a partial elevation showing the mechanism for giving a traversing motion to the frame carrying the paper. Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation of the device, showing the'dial and pointer which indicate the position of the type-wheel. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the electrical connections for the different parts. Fig. 9 is an elevation, partially in section,showing a typeband which may be substituted for the typewheel shown in the other views; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified form of construction for the paper-carrying frame by which the sheet'of paper is brought outside the case, so that it may be cut off and preserved.

While my device may be operated for many other purposes, the principal purpose for which it is designed is the printing of bulletins-such as Weather reports, reports of. athletic games, and sporting news generally. With this end in view the device will be set up in public places where large numbers of people may have access thereto. A series of the devices will be connected up and operated from a central oftlce.

The device is incased in a suitable box or casing A, which has in the front thereof a glass -plate A', immediately behind which is a sheet of paper, upon which the bulletin is printed. This sheet of paper C is mounted in a frame G, which is provided with means by which it is traversed in front of the typewheel. This frame is provided with two rollers C and C3, the latter being placed at the top of the frame and provided with spring rotating mechanism or any suitable mechanism by which the sheet of paper may be rolled up. The lower roller C is the one which has the paper wound thereon when the device is v first started. The roller C is mounted in the lower end of the frame G and is provided at one end with a toothed wheel C2. This roller C is normally prevented from rotating by means of the spring-arm or pawll C7, which engages the space between the teeth and prelzo vents rotation. This spring is of such construction as to prevent rotation of the roller C through the influence of the spring in the roller C3. It is, however, sufliciently weak that if a slight increased power is applied to the roller C' the same may be rotated.

The frame G is provided at top and bottom with a series of guiding and supporting rollers C4, which engage with top and bottom tracks G4. The upper rollers C4 are supported upon springs C5, so as to insure a close contact with the tracks without binding. Mounted upon the frame G is a bar H, the upper surface of which is toothed, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. This bar H is parallel to the lower rollers C4 and at a short distance to one side thereof. Alongside of this bar is a second bar H4, supported upon links VH3, pivoted thereto and to the lower portion of the bar H. The normal position of the bar H4 is, with its upper surface, on a level with or below the bottom of the teeth on the bar H. The links H3 in this position are inclined to the vertical, so that when the bar H4 is moved horizontally to bring the links H3 into vertical position the bar H4 will be raised until it rises above the tops of the teeth on the bar H.

V Alongside of the track upon which the frame travels is an electromagnet I. This magnet has its armature h3 mounted upon a shaft h2, which shaft has an arm H2 extending upward close alongside the bar H. At its upper end this lever or arm H2 carries a pawl 7L, which. rests upon the upper edge of the bar H. The free end of the pawl h is wide enough to extend over both the bars H and H4. When the bar H'1 israised by being moved horizontally, so as to straighten the links H3, the pawl h will then be raised so as to clear the teeth upon the bar H. To prevent backward movement of the bar H and the frame G to which it is attached, a pawl H', mounted upon a fixed arm, is provided, the face .of the pawl being of such width as to cover both arms H and H4. The magnet I and its armature are so placed that when the armature is attracted the lever H3 will be moved so as to feed the gage the end of the bar.

Vthe action of a cord G', attached thereto and passing over pulleys G3, mounted upon one side of the casing, and of a weight G2, attached to the opposite end of thecord. When the Vbar H4 is raised through contact with one of the stops g3, it will be held in this position by a spring h', secured to the frame, acting upon a squared lower end of one of the links H3.

When upon the return of the frame the opposite end of the bar H4 strikes the other stop g3, the bar H4 will be 4pushed backward and lowered to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 6. This drops the pawls It and H', so that the traversing device is ready for operation again. This return movement of the frame causes a feeding movement of the paper in the following manner: Mounted upon one side of the casing and in line with the teeth upon the wheel C3 is an arm or lever g. This lever, as shown in the drawings, is in the form of a bell-crank lever, pivoted at its center to a bracket g', mounted upon the casing. The lower end of the lever g is acted upon by a spring g3, designed to hold the samein one direction, the position of the lever in this direction being determined by an adj usting-screw g2. The outer end of the lever g is so placed that upon the return of the frame G the lever will engage one of the teeth upon the wheel C3. The under surface of the lever is inclined, so that it will rotate the wheel a distance equal to the pitch of the teeth. The arm C7, which prevents rotation of the wheel C2, being a spring-arm will yield under the influence of the power applied by the lever g. In this way the roll of paper C is advanced a distance corresponding to the distance between consecutive lines of the printing.

The type from which the printing is done is mounted upon the periphery of a wheel B, which is mounted upon a vertical spindle b. Mounted upon this same spindle and beneath the wheel B isa ratchet-wheel B'. (Shown in detail in Fig. 4.) This wheel has a number of teeth corresponding with the number of characters upon the wheel B. Pivoted upon a vertical pivot F3, close alongside the ratehetwheel B', is a yoke F, having a lever F' attached to the same and extending rearwardly therefrom. The arms of this yoke embrace the ratchet-wheel B and terminate in teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the wheel. The distance between the points of the teeth on the yoke is suicient to allow one of the teeth to clear the wheel when the other tooth is in engagement therewith. The relationship between the working faces of the teeth on the yoke and the teeth on the wheel is peculiar. The working faces f upon the teeth of the yoke are made at such an angle relative to the teeth of the wheel that when the bases of the yoke-teeth are in engagement with the points of the wheel-teeth the points of the yoke-teeth will be slightly removed from engagement with the faces of the wheelteeth. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The object of this construction is to cause the faces of `the yoketeeth when the yoke is oscillated to cause a forward rotation of the wheel B' an amount slightly greater than onehalf the tooth pitch. By reason of this construction the rotation of the toothed wheel is made sufficient so that the-point of the opposite yoke-tooth will fall upon the proper side of the point-s of the wheel-teeth, so as to IOS cause a'continuous forward rotation of the wheel. Were it not for this construction it would not be feasible to produce a constant forward rotation. The result would otherwise be simply a slight oscillating movement. The yoke F byv reason of this construction acts both as an escapement to control the rotation of the wheel and as operating-pawls to cause its rotation.

Mounted close alongside the yoke F is an electromagnet E, the armature of which is fastened to the outer end of the lever F of the yoke F. A spring e, attached to the lever and to a screw e', ca uses the return movement of the lever. By means of this mechanism the ratchet-wheel B' and the type-wheel B, which is connected thereto, may be given a continuous step-by-step forward movement by means of a series of electrical impulses which are conducted through the magnet E. By this means the-wheel may be rotated so as to present any character desired to the printing apparatus. The ratchet-wheel B may be provided with a spring-detent or friction-arm F3 to prevent its being moved except under the influence of the magnets. The frame carrying the type-Wheel B is provided with an arm B5, the outer end of which is turned up and extends close in front of the outer face of the wheel at the point where the printing is to be done. The central portion of this outer end is slotted, so as to form a space through which the proper character may reach the paper in printing. It also forms a guard to prevent printing by the adjacent characters.

The impressing or printing is done by means of the lever D. This lever carries a hammer upon its lower end, adapted to strike upon the paper and force the same against the proper character upon the Wheel B. The lever is pivoted at d to a bracket or arm iixed upon a support A2 in the casing A. The lever D is returned to its normal or inoperative position by means of a spring d2. The upper end of the lever D is connected by a link D' to the upper end of an arm D2, mounted upon or carried by the armature D4 of the magnet D2. This magnet D3 and the magnet E, which operates the yoke F, are both in the same or main-line circuit. The diagram showing the electrical connections is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this diagram, .I represents a local ground for the main-line circuit. The other end of the line extends to the central station, where it is grounded. The springl controlling the lever D is made of such construction that the armature-lever D2 will not be attracted by the magnet D2 when the normal current is passed through the main line. In consequence of this the lever is not operated every time the yoke F is vibrated. When the yoke F has been vibrated a sufficient number of times to bring the proper character into printing pothen attracted and the hammer upon the lever D is caused to strike the paper and print the character.

The magnet I, which operates the step-bystep traversing mechanism of the paper-carrying frame is in a local circuit. This local circuit is provided with a battery (represented by J in Fig. 8) and includes as a part of the circuit a movable member of the type-impressing mechanism. As shown in the drawings and the diagram, this movable melnber consists of the arm D2, fixed upon the armature of the magnet D2. The circuit is from the pivot of the armature to a stop-pin or adjusting-screw d2, normally in contact with the armature-lever D2. In the diagram this circuit is shown as containing a cut-out switch J2. This circuit is normally a closed circuit. When the circuit is broken by the action of the type-printing mechanism, the armature of the magnet I and the lever H2, which is connected therewith, are retracted by the spring (not shown) of the armature. This motion issufcient to draw the pawl 71. back a sufficient distance to engage another tooth on the bar H. When the circuit isclosed after a letter has been printed, the lever H2 is drawn forward again, thus advancing the frame Gr a distance equal to one tooth of the bar H or one letter-space.

On the face of the case, as shown in Fig. 7 may be provided a dial-plate b4,having around its periphery characters corresponding to the characters upon the pheriphery of the typewheel B. The pivot b, carrying the typewheel B, carries one of a set of bevel gear- Wheels b, the other being mounted upon a horizontal shaft b2, which extends through the face of the case centrally of the dial b4, and at its outer end carries a pointer h2, set so that it points to the character corresponding to the one which is in printing position upon the wheel B. By this means the position of the wheel B may be observed at any time and a check may be had upon the operation of the device.

It is evident that a type-band mounted upon two wheels may be substitutedfor the typewheel, as described and illustrated. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this case two wheels K are mounted upon vertical axes at a suitable distance apart. They are preferably provided with sprocket-teeth kvupon their peripheries. In the drawings two rows of these teeth are shown, one upon each edge of the wheel. About these wheels is passed a type-belt K, provided with holes 7o, adapted to receive the teeth 7c. Upon the outer surface of this belt are placed the letters or'characters The method of operation of this mechanism is the same as that described for the wheel B. It consists of a magnet M, corresponding with the magnet E,

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having its armature M, mounted upon the the case stops short of the upper end of the frame G, and the construction of the frame is slightly modified. The upper guide-rollers C6 travel in a channel-beam G5, which is supported upon arms connected with the case A. For the upper roller, which carries the paper, is substituted a shaft carrying the pulleys L3, to which are attached bands L', to the lower ends of which is attached a paper-clamp L. This clamp is placed over the upper end of the sheet of paper C and holds the same while it is fed forward. Thus a certain amount of the sheet of printed paper is above the upper end of the case, where it is accessible and may be cut oli:` and preserved, if desired.

My device is one which may be operated and taken care of by any person of ordinary intelligence. The peculiar feedingand controlling mechanism by which the type-wheel is operated and controlled is of such a nature that absolute synchronism of a number of machines may be maintained. It is impossible to rotate the type-wheel without operating the armature of the magnet, and it is equally certain that the wheel will be given a forward movement at each vibration of the armature. The device is consequently one which is suitable for installation in public places and where it is not possible to maintain an operator. It may therefore be used for distributing bulletins of all kinds. It will find a large field in distributing news of base-ball and other athletic contests, races, local and sporting news, stock reports, and, in fact, all manner of information.

The device is operated by any form of mechanism which will transmit an electrical impulse. The operating mechanism has not been shown in connection herewith because such mechanisms are numerous and well known, and any form of mechanism which will create such impulses may be used.

Having thus described my invention, I clailn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame having paper-carrying rollers mounted thereon and means for traversing the frame, posi- .tive means acting upon one of the paper-carrying rollers to rotate it, a spring-held locking means acting upon the other roller, and a lever adapted to engage the latter roller to give it a partial rotation, substantially as described.

2. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame having paper-carrying rollers mounted thereon and means for traversing the frame, positive means acting upon one of the paper-carrying rollers to rotate it, a toothed wheel upon the other roller, a spring-catch engaging said wheel to hold it in adjusted position, and a lever in the path of said wheel, adapted at one end of its traverse to engage a tooth thereof to give the wheel a partial rotation, substantially as described.

3. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame having papercarrying rollers mounted thereon and means for traversing the frame, positive means acting upon one of the paper-carrying rollers to rotate it, a toothed wheel upon the other roller, a spring-catch engaging said wheel to hold it in adjusted position, a pivoted lever in the path of said wheel, adapted at one end of its traverse to engage a tooth thereof to give the wheel apartial rotation, a stop upon one side of said lever, and a spring holding the lever normally against said stop but permitting the lever to be swung away therefrom, substantially as described. t

4. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame having carrying and guiding rollers thereon, a track for the rollers, paper-carrying rollers mounted on the frame, positive paper-feed mechanism for one of said rollers, a toothed wheel upon the other paper-carrying roller, a spring-held stop for the same, a lever engaging a tooth of said wheel to move it one space by the forward motion of the frame, and means for giving the frame a reciprocating traverse, substantially as described.

5. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame having carrying and guiding rollers thereon, a track for the rollers, paper-carrying rollers mounted upon the frame, positive paperfeeding mechanism for one of said `paper-carrying rollers, a toothed wheel upon the other paper-carrying roller, a spring-held stop for the wheel, a lever engaging a tooth of said wheel to move it one space by the forward motion of the frame, a weight-return for the frame, and an electrically-operated forwardl feeding mechanism therefor, substantially as described.

6. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame carrying a sheet of paper, traversing guides therefor and traversing mechanism comprising a toothed bar upon the frame, a plain bar alongside thereof whose top surface is normally below the teeth on `the toothed bar,

links carrying the plain bar and normally lying at an angle with the vertical, a spring engaging one of the links to hold the links in a vertical position and the bar raised, a pawl extending across both bars, means for reciprocating said pawl, and fixed stops in the path of the plain bar by which the latter is raised to free the pawl and lowered to allow the pawl to engage the toothed bar, and a positive return-feed for the said frame, substantially as described.

7. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame carrying a sheet of paper, traversing guides therefor and traversing mechanism comprising a toothed bar upon the frame, a plain bar alongside thereof whose top surface is normally below the teeth on the toothed bar, links carrying the latter bar, and normally lying at an angle with the vertical, a spring secured to the frame and engaging one of the links to hold the bar raised, a pawl extending across both bars, means for reciprocating said pawl,iixed stops in thepath of the plain bar by which the latter is raised to free the pawl and lowered to permit the pawl to en- ICO IIO

gage the toothed bar, and a positive returnfeed for the said frame, consisting of a cord attached to the frame and passing over pulleys, and a weight suspended on said cord, substantially as described.

8. An electric bulletin, comprising a frame carrying a sheet of paper, traversing guides therefor, and traversing mechanism comprising a toothed bar upon the frame, a plain bar alongside thereof whose top surface is normally below the surface of the teeth on the toothed bar, links carrying the latter bar and normally lying at an angle with the vertical, a yielding spring-catch engaging said links to hold them vertical, a pawl extending across both bars, means for reciprocating said pawl, a stop in the path of the plain bar by which the latter is raised to free the pawl, and a positive return-feed for said frame, substantially as described.

9. In an electric printing-bulletin, the combination with a casing, of a paper-carrier mounted to travel in the casing and provided with a rack, a plain bar alongside of the rack, links pivoted to the carrier and plain bar, an electromagnet, a pawl extending across both rack and bar and operated from the armature of the electromagnet, and astop at each end of the casing and adapted to be engaged by the ends of the plain bar to raise and lower it, substantially as described.

10. In an electric printin g-b ulletin ,the combination with a casing, of a frame mounted to travel in the casing and provided with paper-carrying rollers at its upper and lower portions, a rack on the. frame, a plain bar alongside of the rack, links pivoted to the frame and bar, an electromagnet, a pawl extending across both rack and bar and operated from the armature of the electromagnet, a stop at each end of the casing adapted to be engaged by the ends of the bar to raise and lower it, and means for operating one of the paper-rollers on the return movement of the frame, substantially as described.

l1. In an electric printing-bulletin,the combination with a casing, of a traveling frame in the casing, and provided with paper-carrying rollers in its upper and lower portions, a rack on the frame, a plain bar alongside of the rack, links pivoted to the frame and bar, an electromagnet, an arm on the shaft of the armature of the electromagnet, a pawl on the said arm and extending across both rack and bar, a stop at each end of the frame and with which the ends of the said bar engages, means for returning the frame, and means for operating one of the paper-rollers on the return movement of the said frame, substantially as described.

12. In an electric printing-bulletin ,the combination with a casing, of a frame traveling in said casing, paper-rollers mounted in the frame, one at the top and the other at the bottom, a pawl-and-rack mechanism for operating the frame in one direction, means for returning the frame, means for disengaging the pawl from the rack on the return movement of the frame, a toothed Wheel on one of the paper-rollers, and a pivoted and springpressed lever carried by a bracket on the casing and adapted to engage the teeth of the Wheel to turn the same on the return movement of the said frame, substantially as described.

13. In an electric prin tin g-bulletin, the combination with a casing, of a frame traveling in ysaid casing, paper-rollers mounted in the frame, one at the top and the other at the bottom, a rack on the frame, a plain bar arranged alongside of the rack, links pivoted to the frame and bar, an electromagnet, a pawl extending across the bar and rack and operated from the armature of the electromagnet, means for returning the frame, stops one at each end of the casing with which the ends of the bar engage to raise and lower it, a toothed Wheel on one of the paper-rollers, and a pivoted lever adapted to engage the `paper-roller on the return movement of the frame, substantially as described.

14. In an electric printing-bulletin, the combination with a traveling frame, and means for operating the same,of paper-rollers mounted in the frame one at the top and the other at the bottom, a toothed wheel on one of the paper-rollers, a spring-pawl engaging the said wheel to prevent rotation of the same, and a pivoted and spring-pressed elbow-lever engaging the toothed wheel on the return of the frame to turn the said wheel, substantially as described.

l5. An electric printing-bulletin, comprising a traveling frame, paper-rollers mounted in the frame, arack on the frame, aplain bar supported by links alongside of the rack, a pawl engaging the rack, an electromagnet, the armature of which operates the said pawl, stops with which the bar engages, means for automatically returning the frame, means for operating one of the paper-rollers on the return movement of said frame, a movable type-carrier arranged adjacent to the papercarrying frame, an electromagnet, means for operating the type-carrier from the electromagnet, a pivoted and spring-pressed lever adapted to force the paper against the type of the carrier, an electromagnet, and a connection between the said lever and the armature of the electromagnet, substantially as described.

GEORGE L. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. CEoNIN, ALPHoNsUs WALSH.

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